Tubes Radiatori, the Rift radiator wins the iF Design Award 2016

Yet another outstanding achievement for Tubes Radiatori which, thanks to its Rift radiator, has won the iF Design Award 2016, the annual award conferred by the iF International Forum Design GmbH. This is the first acknowledgement for Rift, designed by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba with Matteo Fiorini.

The iF Design Award has rewarded the best brands and products in the design world since the 1950s and it is considered to be one of the major world-wide competitions, drawing in more than 5,000 applicants from 70 different countries each year.

The aim of the iF Design Award is to convey the importance of design in all its aspects, and to celebrate the aesthetic and technological qualities of design products: indeed, among these, Rift was picked out to win in the Building Technology category, and will officially receive the award in Munich o n 26th February for its ability to combine technical innovation and impeccable styling in the best possible way.

Rift will be on display from 6th October 2016 until 19th February 2017 at the iF Design Exhibition Hamburg, the permanent exhibition in the centre of Hafencity in Hamburg.

We spoke to Roberto Palomba in detail about the main features of Rift.

– The Rift radiator by Tubes has won the iF Design Award, one of the most prestigious awards world-wide. In your opinion, what particular distinguishing feature struck a chord with the jury?Roberto Palomba: Rift is the first radiator to feature major evolution in the way of thinking and designing this type of product within the home. Rift is far from the traditional idea of radiators, thanks to its elements that can be placed without any rule of order, either horizontally or vertically, revolutionising the concept of the radiator as a single, well-defined object. This significant research conducted by Tubes into t he world of radiators therefore continues. Rift is a project that moves completely away from the technical approach to this sector and sees the architect involved both as main player and designer.

– Functionality and elegance are two key words: how do they come together in the design of Rift?Roberto Palomba: Aesthetics and functionality are often thought as two competing facets, but we believe that the balance between these two elements generates what we commonly refer to as good design.

– Is Rift the result of your experience as architects? In your opinion, was the market lacking this type of radiator, one that is modula r, component-based and customisable?Roberto Palomba: The whole Tubes project stems from our need, as architects, for radiator elements that give back some iconic value to the idea of warmth. It was fundamental to take the idea of warmth into the home through a new idea of contemporary iconicity, which used to be provided by a fire in the fireplace or a stove, which represented semantically the centre of the home and hearth. In fact, the path taken by Tubes with Elements intends to rebuild a relationship between these themes and their symbolic and primary role on the domestic scene, changing and evolving, as art has changed from figurative to abstract and conceptual.

– Which role does the wide range of accessories play in making Rift a genuine interior design item? Which sp aces and what kind of customization are the most suitable for Rift?Roberto Palomba: Usually, even the strongest objects end up being lost in space, as the eyes eventually stop seeing them. Constant interaction with this object allows us to remember it is there, as well as to offer functional features, further emphasising the centrality of warmth. With Rift, the game of accessories is fundamental; indeed, the interesting thing about this product is the game of interaction: accessories such as shelves and clothes hooks encourage a use that is not merely passive.

Product description:

Rift is a modular, component-based radiator, designed to satisfy the customisation needs of any designer. It is made up of two modules in extruded aluminium which can be arranged horizontally or vertically, aligned, unaligned or inverted in order to form compact, symmetrical or asymmetrical sculptures. Its versatility is further enhanced by the line of accessories, which includes shelves, making the radiator perfect for living rooms or bedrooms, along with heated towel rails, ideal for the bathroom.

Rift is available in electric and hydraulic versions. The greatest new feature of Rift, which makes it the perfect radiator for renovations, is great, patented technical innovation relating to installation which is much simpler than for traditional radiators. Precise centring is no longer necessary for connection to the plumbing system which for Rift occurs by means of a single collector with flexible centring.

Tubes offers a number of standard models consisting of double or multiple combinations of Rift, horizontally or vertically aligned, misaligned or reversed by varying sizes and different joints, creating a collection of monumental and customized radiators according to your taste and needs.

Materials: 100% recyclable aluminium
Colours: all the colours in the Tubes range (more than 100)
Dimensions: up to 240 cm high, from 100 up to 190 cm wide.